You forget One Very Important Thing Mate – (19)
Ashley had quite forgotten the labor that went into working on a ship; both Jack and Gibbs had to keep reminding her of what to do. She didn't quite know where the ship was going...or why for that matter. But really she didn't care, she was just trying to forget the whether-too's and what-fors of her life. From now on, she would act on impulse...however, it came to her that she almost missed the comfort of her room in Port Royal. All she had to do was sit around, there was nice food, and books too…
'No! Dammit Ashley! YOU DO NOT MISS PORT ROYAL!' One of the many voices in her head called out, and she became more aggressive the the brush she was using to scrub the decks.
"Oi! Be careful will ya?" Jack yelled at her from the helm.
The helm. Also known as Jack's new home, he spent all of his time there, and was often found leaning on it fast asleep. His eyes only left the horizon to inspect the crew or to glance down at his compass.
Ashley took this as the opportune moment to question him about the nature of their direction.
"Jack! Oi! Captain!" She tried to get his limited attention, striding over to him with ill-deserved confidence. She found that she never called him Father, it was Jack or Captain. Varying on what mood she was in.
"Aye?"
"Where exactly are we goin'?"
"Wherever,"
"Where exactly is wherever?"
"Wherever I want, which means I follow this compass to whatever I want, which is…wherever I want. And when we find whatever I want, wherever I want it to be, we'll change direction," Jack explained, like what he had just said was plain as day.
Ashley raised her eyebrows.
"In English?"
"To tell ye the truth, I don't know where we're goin' lass, I'm just following the compass to whatever I want and I-" Jack was about to start explaining again, but Ashley stopped him.
"Don't start that again," She shook her head, slightly confused; before heading back to her brush and bucket. After a few moments she felt something land on her shoulder. Cotton's Parrot.
"We're lost...pieces of eight!...lost...LOST!"
Then it flew away again, still talking about being lost and certain doom. Ashley saw Jack look up at it and frown angrily.
"Gibbs! I be reckoning the bird is right. Tis most likely that we're all lost, the Captain not knowin' where we 're going and all tha'," Ashley looked over to Gibbs, who was walking in her direction.
"Aye, yer probably right, if we are lost, keep in mind, not a lot fazes Jack Sparrow. But what bodes ill for Jack Sparrow bodes ill for us all,"
"Wha' do you mean by that?"
"I feel a change in the winds, an' not a good one at tha'. I'd say, we're way out into the ocean by now, leagues ahead and behind us, I reckon whatever Jack wants, it's somethin' big," Gibbs gritted his teeth.
"Treasure?" Ashley eyes glinted.
"Oh..I'm not saying treasure..maybe more..Maybe less, but whatever it is, tis sure givin' the crew the daveys,"
"Eh?" Ashley looked around, and it was true; the crew had been awfully quiet, all with pained looks on their faces.
'Christ! Gibbs knows everythin!'
"Jack better find a way out of 'ere soon, I didn't stay on this ship to get lost ye know,"
"Oh..then..if ye don't mind me askin' Why are ye here?" Gibbs folded his arms and raised his eyebrows at her, an all-knowing grin upon his dirty face.
'He's right you know, Jack said you have to stay so that the compass doesn't keep pointing to you. But, you could escape so easily…Just say its because you want to spend time with your Father,'
But, it isn't.
Yes! It is.
Isn't.
Is.
Isn't.
Is.
Isn't.
Is.
Isn't.
Is.
Isn't
Is.
Isn't.
Is.
Isn't.
Gibbs coughed, expectantly.
"Oh I..um…well I have to don't I really? I mean, otherwise the compass will keep pointing to me," Ashley muttered a reply.
Gibbs smiled and nodded, before walking away to carry on with his work.
(THE NEXT DAY)
Jack Sparrow gazed out at the sea, as his ship plunged forward through the waves. His features hinted a faint smile as he glanced from his compass to the sea ahead of him.
"You seem to be in a fine mood, Captain." Ashley as she walked to the helm.
"Maybe that's because I am in a fine mood." Jack replied.
"My I inquire why?" Ashley asked, walking in front of him.
"Oh, for a few reasons.." Jack said with a smirk.
"Aye?" Ashley pressured, wanting a real answer.
"Well, if ye take a look through me telescope ye'll see why,"
Ashley looked through it, right out to sea; there was a patch of land, mostly green with tree's and other plants. She could also make out a long thin line of golden sand; a beach! She guessed it was some kind of island, there were no signs of buildings. And whatever Jack wanted was on that island!
Nodding to show she understood, she handed the looking glass back to him, and thought that, now, if any time was best to have all the answers she wanted out of him. Ashley decided to start with the question she most wanted answered.
"Jack?"
"Aye?"
"Where is my mother?"